GEORGE TOWN: The four Bangladeshi workers that were initially thought to be pinned under the rubble where a construction of a logistic complex had collapsed have been arrested by police.

Investigations revealed that they were at the site but quickly fled the scene after the incident at about 9.45pm on Tuesday (Nov 28).

Penang deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said police managed to track them in Bayan Lepas at 4pm on Wednesday (Nov 29).

"We dug up the entire scene, used K-9 units and deployed the drone to search for the victims but the four employees we were expecting as told by the employer were not found.

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"Investigations later found that they were at the scene during the incident but fled right after it.

"At 4pm today (Nov 29), we managed to track them down in Bayan Lepas and they have been arrested.

"We believe they fled out of fear and they will be investigated," he told reporters after announcing the end of search and recovery operation at 6.30pm.

Meanwhile, the number of victims in the incident stands at five, all Bangladeshi nationals.

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The two injured have been identified as 30-year-old Md Uzzal Mridha and 33-year-old Md Razu Ahamad.

Three deceased have been identified as 42-year-old Md Ahed Ali, 46-year-old Mohamad Mokaddes Ali and 29-year-old Mohammad Sayful Islam.

A total of 188 rescue personnel from various agencies were involved in the search and recovery operation.